This blog is not affiliated in any way with Cindy Crawford. Even if she is its de facto inspiration. It's also not affiliated in any way with Hayden Panettiere, who's earned joint top billing on this blog because she makes me happy. And that ain't easy.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

The Cindy Spot presents My Own Personal Guide to the New US Shows II: The Next Day

Ah, the upfronts. My favourite part of the TV year, when we find out which shows are likely to be up for grabs at the LA Screenings and MIPCOM (or maybe not - they're likely to tread more carefully after last year, when all the major UK buyers got burnt to some degree; ITV was going to give Six Degrees the flagship channel treatment, the BBC snapped up, er 3 LBS., Channel 4 couldn't wait to take Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Five went for Vanished and Sky took Standoff. To compound this, they all passed on Heroes the first time around... though to be fair, BBC2 came to their senses later on, C4 did take Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sisters and Five has Shark). What's coming up, whether or not I'll take a look, and the ever-important eye-candy points (hence the Alttiere Factor - named after Jessica Alba and Hayden Panettiere, the lures that got me into Dark Angel and Heroes respectively). No reality shows included, by the way. Especially for the CW.

NBCBionic WomanWorth checking out? Well, I never much cared for the original show (I was a loyalist to The Six Million Dollar Man myself), but it sounds... watchable.Alttiere Factor: Reasonable. Katee Sackhoff is no Grace Park, and Michelle Ryan sure as hell ain't no Jessica Alba, but neither are they Trinny and Susannah.Chances of being in the UK: Extremely high. The casting of a graduate from one of the main soaps helps, plus the fact that Sky One is always after new SF shows - plus the fact that Sci-Fi will be wanting something to fit in alongside Heroes (the first thing to regularly tune me to the channel since She Spies ended)...

ChuckWorth checking out? The premise of a spy with an enhanced brain is right up my alley, and McG already lured me in with Fastlane, The OC and the Charlie's Angels movies.Alttiere Factor: Okay. Sarah Lancaster was cute on What About Brian.Chances of being in the UK: Pretty good.

JourneymanWorth checking out? Zap2it claims "there was a bit of a Life on Mars vibe to the trailer," but like most people, the moment I heard about this I thought Quantum Leap.Alttiere Factor: Meh. Gretchen Egolf had to cope with Katherine Heigl and Emilie de Ravin when she was on Roswell and Kelly Hu when she was on Martial Law. Here she has to cope with Moon Bloodgood.Chances of being in the UK: Could go either way.

LifeWorth checking out? Well, a cop coming back to the force after wrongful imprisonment doesn't spell long-lasting show. Plus it's from Rand Ravich, who still hasn't received the horsewhipping he should have gotten for The Astronaut's Wife.Alttiere Factor: High. Sarah Shahi (illustrated)'s in it.Chances of being in the UK: Good. ITV's digital channels love cop shows.

The IT CrowdWorth checking out? A redo of the British show of the same name, so I have to skip such things on principle.Alttiere Factor: Not good. Jessica St. Clair is cute, but...no.Chances of being in the UK: Low. Then again UK channels show what is known over here as The Office: An American Workplace...

Lipstick JungleWorth checking out? Since I was never on board for Sex and the City, I may have to say no.Alttiere Factor: Brooke Shields. Kim Raver. Lindsay Price. Not feeling it...Chances of being in the UK? Bet on it. Sex and the City did not founder over here. Channel 4's probably the best bet.

ABCBig ShotsWorth checking out? Four big executives into male bonding. Hmm. On the upside, Jon Harmon Feldman did okay with Tru Calling...Alttiere Factor: ...which had Eliza Dushku. This has Jessica Collins from that show, Paige Turco and Nia Long. Not quite in the same league.Chances of being in the UK: Not out of the question.

CarpoolersWorth checking out? A bunch of white guys sitting around talking? In a car? Better be very funny. Still, Jerry O'Connell can be entertaining. Yes, he can.Alttiere Factor: Low. I didn't fancy Faith Ford in Murphy Brown, Hope & Faith or Maggie Winters. Unlikely to happen here either.Chances of being in the UK: Can't see anyone getting excited over it.

CavemenWorth checking out? The commercials this gimmick comedy launched from are unknown over here, but even without that foreknowledge it doesn't sound like something that can last. But then again...Alttiere Factor: Not familiar enough with Kaitlin Doubleday and Stephanie Lemelin to judge.Chances of being in the UK: Low, but with so many cable channels nothing should ever be ruled out.

Dirty Sexy MoneyWorth checking out? Family secrets in high-powered lawyer firm with Peter Krause. Sounds interesting.Alttiere Factor: Not high, more thanks to Samaire Armstrong than Zoe McLellan.Chances of being in the UK: Pretty good.

Private PracticeWorth checking out? I don't watch Grey's Anatomy, so there's no chance of me being there for a spinoff. Plus I haven't forgiven producer Marti Noxon for Point Pleasant, Elisabeth Harnois notwithstanding.Alttiere Factor: Low. Kate Walsh, Merrin Dungey and Amy Brenneman are not enough to atone for Taye Diggs being in it.Chances of being in the UK: Bet on it. The original show has enough fans on LivingTV and Five.

Pushing DaisiesWorth checking out? The fantasy premise (a man can bring people back to life by touching them but they die again if he touches them again) sounds like something designed for me. Plus Bryan Fuller's behind it - anyone involved with Heroes and Dead Like Me gets a pass automatically.Alttiere Factor: Pretty high, with Anna Friel and Kristin Chenoweth.Chances of being in the UK: See Bionic Woman.

Sam I AmWorth checking out? Amnesia is one of the oldest tricks in the book but it works better as the basis for standalone episodes than as the basis for entire shows (A Man Called Shenandoah, Coronet Blue, The Lazarus Man, John Doe... only Quantum Leap really pulled it off, and that was more time-travel). And as a comedy? But hey.Alttiere Factor: High. Not only filled with lookers (Christina Applegate, Jennifer Esposito, Jean Smart, even Melissa McCarthy if you like that kind of thing) but they're all good value thespically. Too bad Barry Watson's in it though.Chance of being in the UK: Paramount Comedy Channel may well come a-calling.

Women's Murder ClubWorth checking out? If I was more familiar with the works of James Patterson, I might be more excited. But it might come off.Alttiere Factor: Laura Harris, Angie Harmon and Aubrey Dollar. They're all attractive, but... I'm not sure.Chances of being in the UK: Excellent - there's always room for American 'tec shows on British TV. Always. Especially on the BBC's daytime schedules and on Hallmark.

Cashmere MafiaWorth checking out? High-powered women in business in New York? At least it's not in the Sex and the City mold. I hope. That said, I'm not hopeful this'll be the hit Darren Star could really, really do with.Alttiere Factor: Lucy Liu (illustrated). Enough said. (No offence to Frances O'Connor, Miranda Otto and Bonnie Somerville.)Chance of being in the UK: Darren Star is like catnip to buyers.

Eli Stone Worth checking out? A lawyer who thinks he's a prophet? Sounds unusual and intriguing. As long as Ken Olin's wife doesn't show up, I'm there.Alttiere Factor: Sadly not high, thanks to Natasha Henstridge and Loretta Devine.Chance of being in the UK: If they go for the "UK interest" thing (it stars Jonny Lee Miller - as did, er, Smith, the first show last year to be canned), quite good.

Miss/GuidedWorth checking out? Hmmmmm... not sure about this unpopular-student-turned-guidance-counselor thing. Depends on if my mind changes; if I'd seen Judy Greer on Arrested Development I'd be more definite.Alttiere Factor: Not high on Brooke Burns.Chance of being in the UK: Paramount or Living?

CBSBig Bang TheoryWorth checking out? Geeky guys come under the wing of a beautiful woman? Wow, that's original. Then again, this is from Chuck Lorre so it might be amusing.Alttiere Factor: Ooh yeah - the beautiful woman is Kaley Cuoco, pictured above. Kaley "8 Simple Rules" Cuoco. Kaley "Billie from the last season of Charmed" Cuoco. Kaley "Brandy and Mr. Whiskers" Cuoco. I am SO there.Chance of being in the UK: I wouldn't rule it out.

CaneWorth checking out? The story of a successful South Florida family's trials. With Jimmy Smits, Hector Elizondo and Rita Moreno, so the acting will not suck. Might be interesting.Alttiere Factor: There are those who find Polly Walker and Alona Tal (last seen by me in Veronica Mars as the unfortunate Meg, because I don't watch Supernatural) hot. Okay.Chance of being in the UK: If it's a big enough hit, maybe. And Polly's one of our own.

MoonlightWorth checking out? Everybody who saw the premise about a tortured sensitive vampire detective and immediately thought either "Angel" or "Forever Knight", raise your hands...Alttiere Factor: On the down side, it has Amber Valletta. On the upside, it has Shannon Lucio. So-so.Chance of being in the UK: It'll come. Sooner or later, one way or another, it'll come.

Viva LaughlinWorth checking out? Based on the BBC show Viva Blackpool (about a man wanting to open a casino, and lots of singing thrown into a bizarre-sounding pot), so that's one for me to avoid on principle...Alttiere Factor: ...even if it does have Madchen Amick.Chance of being in the UK: Since Hugh Jackman produces and appears occasionally, better than expected.

SwingtownWorth checking out? Well, it's a '70s drama that isn't devoted to taking the piss...Alttiere Factor: The only name that leaps out at me is Lana Parrilla, but after Boomtown that's more than enough to pass.Chance of being in the UK: Depends. It does have a UK lead in Jack Davenport.

FoxBack to YouWorth checking out? A news sitcom (traditionally shows set in newsrooms do better if they're comedies rather than dramas) with Kelsey Grammer as an anchor. Plus you get him and Fred Willard on the same show. Of course it's worth checking out!Alttiere Factor: Patricia Heaton is not how I roll.Chance of being in the UK: Extremely good.

K-VilleWorth checking out? A cop show set in New Orleans post-Katrina does sound like something to check out. Even if it does star Anthony Anderson.Alttiere Factor: To the delight of Evil, Simone Deveaux lives - Tawny Cypress goes from Heroes to this. So pretty good. (In a cheeky scheduling move, Fox has this on the fall schedule at 9pm on Mondays until 24 comes back. Heroes is on at the same time, for anyone reading this who doesn't know.)Chance of being in the UK: This has FX written all over it. Or Five.

New AmsterdamWorth checking out? Another show about an immortal hero (back and forth between the 17th century and the present). All together now - "I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings..." (With Lasse Hallstrom as producer, though, gore will likely be low.)Alttiere Factor: Alexie Gilmore is cute, and Zuleikha Robinson has her admirers.Chance of being in the UK: It could happen eventually. Hell, Queen of Swords is on UK TV now...

Canterbury's LawWorth checking out? Julianna Margulies as an unconventional defense attorney (aren't they all on TV?). You pays your money... (Then again, Denis Leary's one of the producers.)Alttiere Factor: See above.Chance of being in the UK: It's hard to think of a lawyer show that hasn't turned up on British TV.

The Return of Jezebel JamesWorth checking out? The words "Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino" mean it definitely is.Alttiere Factor: I still haven't forgiven Parker Posey for annoying me in Blade: Trinity, but don't discount Lauren Ambrose. So good.Chance of being in the UK: Trouble? The channel, not the degree of difficulty.

The Rules for Starting OverWorth checking out? Oh joy, yet another sitcom about friends dating (granted they're in their 30s). Then again, you can never tell just from descriptions.Alttiere Factor: No offence, Rashida Jones, but the Hottie From The Office slot has been filled by Jenna Fischer.Chance of being in the UK: Hello, LivingTV.

The Sarah Connor ChroniclesWorth checking out? As long as it's closer to the first two Terminator movies than the last one.Alttiere Factor: This will be my first exposure to Summer Glau (illustrated). Hope she lives up to what fans say. (If Lena Headey couldn't get me into 300, on the other hand...).Chance of being in the UK: Excellent. I expect this to get a buyer at the LA Screenings for sure. And I expect that buyer to be Sky One.

CWAliens in AmericaWorth checking out? Two young boys united by not fitting in. Doesn't sound awful.Alttiere Factor: Not immediately apparent, frankly.Chance of being in the UK: It might turn up on Nickelodeon or the like...

Gossip GirlWorth checking out? A series involving a mysterious blogger who blabs about bad-behaved teens. I'm not a great fan of most gossip blogs, but yes.Alttiere Factor: You bet. Not only does it have Leighton Meester (illustrated, and let's hope this hot little thing doesn't get killed off like when she was on 24 or be AWOL from several episodes like when she was on Surface), but the gifted and beautiful Kelly Rutherford is here as well - she's long overdue to be on a hit show, having already been on at least two good ones (The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. and Homefront... did you think I meant Threat Matrix and E-Ring? Please). The fact that the series is narrated by Veronica Mars herself, Kristen Bell, is the icing on the cake.Chance of being in the UK: High. Channel 4 and E4 could use something to replace The OC.

Life is WildWorth checking out? Family dramas about people moving from the big country to the countryside or whatever are not my cup of tea to begin with. Especially if they involve animals. Add to this the whole "based on ITV's Wild At Heart" thing, and... but if it's up your street, go nuts.Alttiere Factor: Unless Tiffany Mulheron is smoking hot, I doubt it.Chance of being in the UK: On one of ITV's digital channels, probably.

ReaperWorth checking out? A lad having to be the Devil's bounty hunter? Brimstone for laughs (with Kevin Smith as a producer). And I was never keen on Brimstone.Alttiere Factor: Valarie Rae "Original Cindy from Dark Angel" Miller and Nikki Reed from The OC. Hmm.Chance of being in the UK: Not too bad.

* = Shown (or due to be shown) in the UK.

In memory of: 3 LBS*, 7th Heaven*, 20 Good Years, According To Jim*, All Of Us*, Andy Barker PI, Armed & Famous, Big Day*, The Black Donnellys*, The Class*, Close To Home*, Crossing Jordan*, Day Break*, Drive, Extreme Makeover, George Lopez, Gilmore girls*, Grease: You're The One That I Want, The Great American Dream Vote, Happy Hour*, Help Me Help You*, Identity, In Case of Emergency, Jericho*, Justice*, Kidnapped*, The King of Queens*, The Knights of Prosperity, Nanny 911*, The Nine*, The OC*, Raines*, The Real Wedding Crashers, Reba, The Rich List, Rock Star, Runaway*, Standoff*, Show Me the Money, Six Degrees*, Smith*, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip*, Thank God You're Here, Trading Spouses, Vanished*, Veronica Mars*, The War At Home*, Waterfront (which managed to get cancelled without a single episode being shown!), The Wedding Bells, The Winner and What About Brian*.

The James Horner Spot.

The Tell Them Who I Am Spot.

...is a 43-year-old guy who likes listening to film and TV music, whose days of eating entire packets of biscuits are gone thanks to the ol' diabetes, whose hair - thanks to genetics - now has a bald spot on top but who is fortunately 6'2" so it's hard to see, who enjoys the box (particularly American shows - and the often-made British claim that "we only see the best of US TV" is a fallacy as anyone who has cable will testify. I think it's Americans who only see the best of Br... I hate that term, so I refuse to sully this blog with it), who's gotten most of his friends through stories and the net, who loves writing about attractive female celebrities, who slaves at a direct mail company, and who isn't as sorry he grew up in Barbados between 1976 and 1993 as he used to be. Oh, and he doesn't seem any emotionally different from when he was 12. A man really is a child grown up, child is father of the man, and so on...